Towing connection



Dec. 28 1926.V

J. H. SANDLIAN TOWING CONNECTION Filed June 6. 1925 2 Shets-Sheei Dec. 28, 1926.

J. H. SANDLIAN TOWING CONNECTION piled June e, 1925 2 sheets-sheet Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

"unir STATES Parier vries.

JAMES H. SANDLIAN, OF CEDAR BLUFFS, KANSAS. ASSGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT H. CRAIG, OF CEDAR BLFFS, KANSAS.

TOWING CONNECTION.

Application filed `T une 6, 1925. Serial No. 35,411.

rThis invention aims to provide novel means whereby a vehicle may be towed by another vehicle and be steered automatically by the towing` vehicle so that it will follow in the wake of the towing vehicle.

Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and assembled with two vehicles; Figure 2 is a side elevation; Figure 3 is a top plan; Figure 4 is a section taken about on the line 4 4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a section taken about on the line 5-5 of Figure 3; Figure 6 is afragmental plan illustrating one of the connections.

The numeral l marks a towing vehicle including a rear axle housing 2, the difierential casing appearing at 3. The towed vehicle is shown at 4 and its front axle at 5. The numeral 6 marks the drag link conn nected at 7 to the movable axle ends 8 whereon the forward wheels 9 are j ournaled. The parts above described are common, and no novelty is claimed for them, saving in so far as they may enter into patentable combinations with parts hereinafter described.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a link 1() including a bar 11 on the forward end of which there is a clevis 12 supporting a ring 14, to the 'end that the link may be connected to the towing vehicle otherwise than as hereinafter described. Preferably, the bar 11 carries at its forward end a fork 15, the forwardly presented diverging arms of which have U-shaped jaws or connecting elements 16 receiving the aXle housing 2 of the vehicle 1 and held thereon by securing devices 17, such as bolts, mounted in the jaws 16 in front of the axle housingl 2. The connect-ion thus afforded preferably is of such a nature that the link can have vertical swinging movement on the axle housing 2, the differential casing 3 being received between the arms of the fork 15, and the construction being such that the link 1() cannot swing horizontally with respect to the rear axle housing 2.

The numeral 18 marks a horizontally swinging lever, and a means is provided whereby this lever is fulcrumed intermediate its( ends on the front axle 5 of the towed vehicle 4. Having this consideration in mind, the lever 18 has a 'plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 19 adapted to re ceive, for adjustment, a fulcrum stud 2O carried by the lower member 21 of a clamp bracket 22 including an upper member 23, the front axle 5 of the towed vehicle 4 being` received between the members 21 and 23 of the clamp bracket 22, the said members being connected, to hold them on the axle 5, by securing elements 24 such as bolts. A wear plate 25 is mounted on the fulcrum stud 20. and is interposed between the lever 18 andl the heads at the lower ends of the bolts 24.

The numeral 26 designates a head having a 33 retaining rigid outer straps 34. i The rear ends of the straps and 34 are spaced apart to receive between them the arms 27 of the head 26, the said arms and the rear ends of the straps being connected by a pivot element 35, so that the link 10 can swing vertically with respect to the lever 18.

It is contemplated that the rear end of the lever 18 shall be connected pivotally to the drag link 6, and because the distance between the drag link and the front axle 5 varies in different vehicles, the lever 18 is supplied with the plurality of openings 19 for the adjustable reception of the fulcrum stud 20. In connecting the rear end of the lever 18 with the intermediate portion of the drag link 6, recourse is had to a detachable clamp including a bridge piece 36 which is downwardly curved intermediate its ends, the central portion of thebridge piece 36 being connected by a pivot element 37 with the rear end of the lever 18. The upper members of the clamp are designated by the numeral 38 and are connected by bolts 39 or the like with the ends of the bridge piece 36, the drag link 6 being bound tightly between the parts 36 and 38.

Vertical swinging movement between the lever 18 and the link 10 is possible, but there is no horizontal swinging movement there. The result is that the lever 18 will swing horizontally, responsive to the movements of the vehicle 1, transmitted through the link 10, the lever 18 imparting longitudinal movement to the drag link 6, the forward wheels 9 of the vehicle 4 being turned, the

ill!

lill.)

said vehicle not onlypbeingmtowed but, as well, being vsteered iantomzitically by y the towing vehicle 1, to follow the towingv vehic-le, without attention from the occupants of either vehicle `Although e preferred -orm `has been shown, it will be understood that a mechanio, instructed by the 'foregoing disclosure,

and working` within the scope of ,what is..

claimed, may make Such changes as the skill of hisv ,calling may. Suggest, .without def, parting-from the spirit ofthe invention,A on.

plaeing thentility thereof in jeopardy.

I Claim 1. Agdeviee ,for ,hitehing a towed vehicle y to a `towing velwcleembodying@v ciampi-,for

mountingontheforwa,rd axle of a. towed vehicf e nndtprovided. with Ia depending stede L lever-held ,Y intermediate 4its endeV ongt the, .et-ndvfor horizontabswinging,Vmoveinent a,

bridgenpiece ,havinge `Y`|`downwardlycurved r-L Central...portion` andirztisedfends, ineens-:for v attaehingtheends of the bridge piece. tolthe underside of .the drag link fot the towedfvehiele, theI rear. end pf op thelever extending across, ,the downwardly. Curvedi portionof thel bridge piece and :being pivoted l thereto,1 the bridge pieeevfsenving to compensate orethe venti-cal, 1 ,elevationV :ot the l ,dr-egg; plinkl ywith 1re-- spoot tothe lower; edge oftlreforwirdaxle, the lever having :e plnrelitr @tlwles fertile., Stnd-tlieholes being spaced @peut lenejtliwiseH of the! lever, gso :aseto adapt ,@the, device ,to

the; dra-g. linklfof n, towed` vehicle, and rmedina .for connecting'1 the forward endl of the lever vehicles wherein the horizontaldistane. between the front exlennd the dreglink Varies, a link, means for connecting the rear end of the link to the forward end of the lever for Vertical swinging movement, and means for n studl for; ,horizontal swinging,movement, kand "0 having a plurality of holes for thestnd, thea holes` -permitting. y the y leverv to, be eadjnlstep jhwisei a ,wenn plate on.the.`stud jan po between Said; parte, of the. seour-- jmoes and tlioee of thelliolee ,which -zuge n thereby top vevent Said v`{geuite-ot the, securing devices ,from ridingioverithe lholee t when` `.the lever, y is swung on thestud, 'Ineens forv connecting` the; .rean end i of f. theilever, to;

to n towing Vvehicle.

In testimony thatl claim` the foregoing; as my own, I have-hereto `affixed zmy signa@ JAMES "H, SANDLlANw ture. 

